Whitehead – Railway Museum and Centre

📍 Whitehead, Antrim

🏛️ Attraction

Last updated: 28 April 2026

Overview

Whitehead Railway Museum and the Whitehead Centre sit side‑by‑side in the charming coastal village of Whitehead, County Antrim. The museum occupies the former Excursion Station of the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway, offering immersive railway history, while the Centre, housed in a lovingly restored 1970s cinema on Kings Road, acts as the village’s tourism and community hub. Together they provide visitors with a blend of heritage, art, outdoor adventure and local culture, all within a short walk of the NIR station and the Causeway Coastal Route.

History / Background

Railway Museum – The Excursion Station was built in 1907 to serve day‑trippers heading for the East Antrim coastline. After World War I traffic fell, the depot fell into disuse until the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI) made it its headquarters in 1966. A five‑year, £3.1 m redevelopment transformed the site into a working museum, reopening in early 2017. Since then it has welcomed over 25 000 visitors and houses RPSI’s rolling‑stock collection and a live restoration workshop.

Whitehead Centre – The building began life as a cinema and was rescued by local residents in 1977, becoming a community centre within the village’s Conservation Area. Refurbishments in 2007/08 and 2011/12 added a large hall, kitchen, function rooms and meeting space. A 2019/20 grant refreshed the Kings Road façade, creating the modern Whitehead Centre that now hosts exhibition space, retail units for start‑ups and a dedicated tourism desk, highlighted by a colourful mural by local artist‑historian Steve Diamond.

What to See & Do

  • Five themed galleries – trace Irish railway history from early steam pioneers to post‑war diesel, with interactive displays, historic photographs and video loops.
  • Footplate experience – climb onto the footplate of a 140‑year‑old steam locomotive and feel the driver’s perspective.
  • Restoration workshops – view volunteers restoring locomotives and carriages through large viewing galleries.
  • Steam train ride – on selected summer Saturdays (typically 11 am‑2.30 pm) a 10‑minute steam‑train ride runs the museum siding; July‑August “Steam Saturday” runs on demand from 12 pm‑4 pm.
  • Audio & video tours – download a narrated guide to your smartphone; a short video tour is available on Vimeo.
  • Cups & Carriages tea room & gift shop – enjoy tea, coffee, light lunches and railway‑themed souvenirs.
  • Family facilities – baby‑changing rooms, a children’s play area with Edwardian costumes and a sensory‑friendly room.
  • Mural by Steve Diamond – a vibrant celebration of Whitehead’s maritime heritage, perfect for a photo.
  • Guided walking tour to Blackhead Lighthouse – 2.5‑hour coastal walk led by Steve Diamond, covering engineering history and dramatic cliff‑side views (£10 adult, £5 child).
  • E‑bike hire and guided e‑bike tours – explore the coastline and nearby Islandmagee at your own pace, with optional stops at the lighthouse and other points of interest.
  • Community activities – visit the foodbank Storehouse, meet the Whitehead Runners, or attend annual events such as the Easter Monday 5‑mile Road Race, the two‑week Whitehead Festival and the Victorian Street Fair each November.
  • Retail and start‑up units – browse locally‑made crafts, souvenirs and refreshments within the Centre’s commercial spaces.

Practical Information

Whitehead Railway Museum

  • Opening hours: Thursday to Saturday, 10:00 am – 2:30 pm (last entry 2:30 pm). The museum is fully accessible with lifts, wheelchair‑friendly toilets and a quiet sensory room.
  • Tickets: Purchase online via the RPSI ticket portal, at the museum counter, or at the Visit Belfast Welcome Centre. Group rates apply for parties of ten or more; RPSI members enter free with a valid card.
  • Location: Historic Excursion Station, a ten‑minute walk from Whitehead NIR station and a short drive along the Causeway Coastal Route.
  • Facilities: Tea room, gift shop, baby‑changing rooms, children’s play area, sensory‑friendly room, wheelchair access.

Whitehead Centre (Tourism & Community Hub)

  • Opening hours (2026): Monday to Saturday, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, with a one‑hour lunch closure 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm. Closed on Sundays but open on Bank Holidays.
  • Services: Tourist information desk, e‑bike hire, guided walking and e‑bike tours, community meeting rooms, exhibition space, retail units.
  • Location: Kings Road, Whitehead, County Antrim – opposite the railway museum and within easy walking distance of the village centre.
  • Contact: Visit the Whitehead Centre in person for up‑to‑date event listings and tour bookings.

Getting There

  • By train: Whitehead NIR station is a 10‑minute walk to the museum and a short stroll to the Centre.
  • By car: Parking is available near the museum’s site and on the street outside the Centre.
  • By bike: E‑bike hire at the Centre makes coastal exploration simple.

Nearby Attractions

  • Blackhead Lighthouse – A short, scenic walk from the museum leads to this historic lighthouse with panoramic sea views.
  • Antrim Coast and Glens – The wider coastal route offers dramatic cliffs, sandy beaches and charming villages, all within easy reach of Whitehead.
  • Ballycastle Railway – For railway enthusiasts, a short drive north brings the narrow‑gauge heritage line at Ballycastle, showcasing additional Irish rail history.

Enjoy a day that blends the romance of steam railways with the vibrant community spirit of Whitehead’s coastal village.